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3.46 AVERAGE
3.46 AVERAGE
dark
medium-paced
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I am not sure if Mara is really in this kind of a world or if she explains her circumstances to herself in a dreamland-state where her very real horrors are done by creatures to deal with the reality of human monsters. Either way, it was quick, messed up and entertaining enough.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Incest, Infertility, Miscarriage, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
5 stars | Eric LaRocca did it again. I'm obsessed with this book, the story was so good. Eric LaRocca used the disturbing and gorey aspects in his storytelling as no-one else does, while also making it a story with deeper meaning and metaphors to make you really think it through. 'We can never leave this place' will never leave my mind.
A great way this end the spooky October month with and to read during Halloween.
A great way this end the spooky October month with and to read during Halloween.
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Do you want to feel like you're on a horrific, surreal acid trip surrounded by sewage and vermin? Do you like to read about people scarred by war and generational trauma? Then read this book.
No really, this is one of the weirdest books I've ever read. I liked it though, I think there is a lot to dissect here. I recommend reading it with someone else so you can discuss. And don't read if you're squeamish or sensitive. There's a lot of suffering in this book.
No really, this is one of the weirdest books I've ever read. I liked it though, I think there is a lot to dissect here. I recommend reading it with someone else so you can discuss. And don't read if you're squeamish or sensitive. There's a lot of suffering in this book.
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Reminded me of a horror version of James and the Giant Peach with family trauma undertones. Magical and depressing all at once.
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood
Moderate: War
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
One of the more terrifying and disturbing things I read in 2022, this short story hurt. It’s incredibly dark and you grow to love the young main character/protagonist Mara and that kind of love ends up devastating as with most of LaRocca’s works there are no happy endings. This short story/novella offered a really stringent and nuanced look at grief, neglect, and the innate horror of being young and vulnerable to those you should be able to trust. Another instant favorite!